[1stevejes]

Multiple myeloma & non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at same time

by 1stevejes on Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:40 pm

Hi, i am hoping to get some feedback.

My father was diagnosed with both multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is all very new to us, as he was just diagnosed last week. They started chemo for the non-Hodgkin's, which had a very good effect for the first round. They have done nothing yet for the other cancer and are still waiting for opinions on the exact stage and severity of it.

I have done some research and this is clearly very rare to have both. He is receiving treatment from a general Hospital in Florida but not one that deals with clinical trials or specialization. I am worried that he is not being treated by the best.

What should we do? Where can we go? He is on Medicaid and we are stuck for answers. We feel like we are at the local doctors mercy because we do not know any better.

Should we take him to MD Anderson or Moffitt? Will they take him now that treatment has begun and he is on Medicaid? All advice would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Dr. Ken Shain]

Re: Multiple myeloma & non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at same time

by Dr. Ken Shain on Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:39 am

As a clinician and researcher at Moffitt in Tampa Florida, I would, of course, recommend that your father come see me or one of our excellent staff of myeloma and lymphoma specialists. For any­one with diseases such as myeloma, let alone a unique case such as your father's, I rec­om­­mend re­ferral to a center of excellence such as Moffitt. This does not necessarily mean that your father will not con­tinue to be treated or seen by his local oncologist. He may just have someone su­per­vising your care.

That being said, there are number of other centers of excellence to chose from across the country in addition to those represented by Advisors associated with this forum.